Jonny DiVirgilio never included the military dynamic into
his vision of playing lacrosse in college. He had in mind places like the
University of Utah and its majestic landscape views from campus. DiVirgilio
loves to ski.

But the Lambert rising senior midfielder had a convincing
ally and lobbyist on the Longhorns’ coaching staff: director of lacrosse Rich
Wehman.

Wehman, a former All-American at the Naval Academy, planted
the idea in DiVirgilio a few months ago, putting in motion a college decision
that DiVirgilio never saw coming: committing to the Midshipmen last Thursday.

“You get to serve your country. The alumni after you
graduate is pretty awesome,” DiVirgilio said. “The Naval Academy was the right
choice.”

DiVirgilio has been a linchpin player for the powerhouse
Longhorns since his freshman season. The midfielder has helped Lambert reach
the Class 7A state championship the past two years with a title in 2016 and a
loss to Lassiter this past spring. DiVirgilio is coming off a season in which
he was named a high school All-American with 14 goals, 30 assists and 26
groundballs.

DiVirgilio adds another college-committed player expected to
return next season for Lambert, which includes Kyle Lewis (Lynchburg College)
and Peyton Miller (Rollins College).

DiVirgilio would join a storied Midshipmen program that won
17 national championships before the sport was sanctioned by the NCAA in 1971.
Navy hasn’t maintained that championship level since, but they’ve remained a
competitive program under head coach Rick Sowell that competes in the Patriot
League.

DiVirgilio said he felt that history when he visited the
Annapolis, Maryland, campus last week. Navy’s coaches had come to watch
DiVirgilio in Lambert’s state playoff game against Centennial at Wehman’s
behest. Afterward, they invited him to come to compete in a tournament.

“I knew the campus was awesome, but it blew my mind when I
actually got on campus,” DiVirgilio said. “The buildings are just nice, all the
culture and the history there.”

Helping matters is DiVirgilio’s connection with two other
Navy recruits from Georgia in Harrison’s Jack Dennehy and Mount Paran’s
Nathaniel Redder. DiVirgilio played with both on travel teams over the years. DiVirgilio
won’t get to contribute right away; he’ll first spend a year at the Naval
Academy Preparatory School in Rhode Island, then have four years of eligibility
remaining.

DiVirgilio is optimistic about the Midshipmen’s 2018
recruiting class as a whole.